Dose levels of 2.5 and 5 μg/kg/day were chosen for the pharmacodynamic equivalence, since literature data show a clear dose-response relationship in terms of the pharmacodynamic parameters over this range. The 10 μg/kg/day dose was chosen to make the investigated range relevant with respect to the clinical indications and the usual praxis for Neupogen®. Moreover, the subcutaneous administration was chosen, since this administration route is the most commonly used in the clinical setting.